Why Mixed Results From This Chronic Kidney Disease Study Aren’t That Great

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By Chris Lange Updated Published
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Why Mixed Results From This Chronic Kidney Disease Study Aren’t That Great

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Cara Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA) shares were crushed on Tuesday after the firm announced results from its midstage trial in patients with chronic kidney disease. Specifically, the results come from the Phase 2 trial of Korsuva for the treatment of pruritus in patients with stage III–V (moderate-to-severe) chronic kidney disease.

The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the weekly mean of the daily 24-hour Worst Itching Intensity Numeric Rating Scale (WI-NRS) score at Week 12 of the treatment period for any of the three tablet strengths versus the placebo.

Secondary endpoints included change from baseline in itch-related quality of life scores at the end of Week 12, as assessed by the total Skindex-10 and 5-D itch scales, as well as the proportion of patients achieving an improvement from baseline of three points with respect to the weekly mean of the daily 24-hour Worst Itch NRS score at Week 12.

Ultimately, the treatment effect was statistically significant after two weeks of treatment and sustained through the 12-week treatment period, meeting the primary endpoint.

Although, the secondary endpoint did not achieve statistical significance, with only 72% of the treatment group and 58% of the placebo achieving a three-point or greater improvement of the baseline for the WI-NRS score.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease.

Shares of Cara Therapeutics traded down about 29% to $18.36 Tuesday morning, in a 52-week range of $12.19 to $27.55. The consensus price target is $32.11.

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About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.

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